Ditching-scoop



(No Model.)

A. Gr. MYERS.

DITGHING SCOOP.

No. 499,437. Patented June 13, '1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALTON G. MYERS, OF SIDNEY, OHIO.

DlTcHlNe-scoop..

l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,437, dated J' une 13, 1893.

Application tiled October 6, 1892. Serial No. 448.072. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALTON G. MYERS, of Sidney, in the county of Shelby and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Ditching-Scoops; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improved ditching scoop, and its object is to produce a scoop which will be more efficient in operation, more easily handled, and of lighter draft than the ordinary scoops heretofore made.

The invention consists in the novel construction of the scoop, having special reference to the curvature of the bottom thereof as will be fully understood from the following description and accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of the scoop in the position it assumes when loaded and being drawn o. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof in cutting position. Fig. 3 isa top view. Fig. 4 is a bottom view. Fig. 5 is a back view thereof. p

The sides A, A, of the scoop are shaped approximately like the longitudinal half of a pendant, or heart-shaped ligure, the top edges thereof being straight, and the lower edge curving involutely from front to rear, so that the sides are widest at points nearest their rear ends. This peculiar shape causes the scoop when at rest, either loaded or unloaded,

to stand with its front edge raised, the scoop balancing itself like a rocker or cradle, thus greatly reducing the amount of surface in contact with the ground, and of course materially lessening the frictional bearing surface,

and consequently the scoop can be moved with less power than would be the case were it flat bottomed. lf the sides are made of wood as illustrated in the drawings, the handles A A are formed integral therewith, prol)'ecting rearwardly and in line with the top edges of the sides as shown.

The bottom B of the scoop is preferably formed of sheet steel, and is secured to the curved lower edge of the sides A by means of rivets or other suitable fastenings C as indicated in the drawings. The front edge b, of

ened. The rear corners of the bottom are cutV to form tongues b', b', which underlie the handles A', and also secured thereto by bolts or rivets c, the upper ends of which pass through the ends of metallic straps D, D, applied over the top edges of the sides A, and are riveted thereto as at d. The front *edge of strap D is riveted to the front corners of the bottom as shown at c. The straps D thus form a metallic connection between the front and rear edges of the bottom, and greatly strengthen the scoop.

It is evident that the sides may in some cases be of steel, or of other metal though for several reasons I prefer to use 4wooden sides. Owingto the peculiar curvature of the scoop sides and bottom, which is an essential feature of my scoop, the operator bya slight upward lifting of the handles rocks the scoop forward and brings the front edge into cutting or scraping position, causing it to cut any depth desired. When the scoop is full, upon letting go the handles the draft strain rocks the scoop partly back, and it rides out in the position shown in Fig. l.

This scoop can be successfully used to remove dirt from the bottom of deep ditches and to cut shallow trenches without driving the team'into the ditchin either case as is necessary with the ordinary scoops, and owing to its form, it can be drawn at right angles up a bank or out of a deep ditch, without sticking in the bank.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. A scoop having sides semi-heart-shaped and involutely curved clear from its front cutting edge to rear and having handles projecting therefrom in line with their top edges,

and a bottom secured to the sides withits front edge projecting above and beyond the front ends of the sides and curved in conformity thereto, substantially as described.

2. A scoop having opposite semiheartshaped sides involutely curved from front to rear and handles projecting therefrom in line with the top edges thereof, a bottom secured to the sides with its front edge projecting above and beyond the front ends of the sides IOO and curved to Conform thereto,having tongues In testimony that I claim the foregoing as underlying the handles and metallic straps my own I affix my signature in presence of two applied over the top edges of the sides and Witnesses.

connected to the front edge of the bottom, ALTON G. MYERS. 5 and bolts extending through the handles and Witnesses:

connecting the straps and tongues, substan- S. J. HATFIELD,

tially as specified. WV. H. TENNEY. 

